Is Vaccine A Dirty Word?

July 1, 2015 by 2 Comments

Is Vaccine A Dirty Word

There’s been big controversy about vaccines lately and moms over the years have had to make the decision to vaccinate their kids or to not vaccinate. With all of the hubub going both ways I’ve heard some ugly things being spewed from the mouths of friends and acquaintances that I thought I’d never hear.

And now with the recent bill being signed into law in California, things are heating up again. And moms aren’t going to have a choice anymore. Under the law, vaccinations would be required of children first entering public school, or when they enter seventh grade, after July 1, 2016.

Judgement has been cast and in my group of friends we don’t even bring up the V word for fear of becoming a pariah. But that shouldn’t be the case. Parents should feel comfortable having an open dialogue with their friends about the safety and benefits – or risks – of vaccines. Especially vaccines for life threatening illnesses that are live in the world today.

Get a Shot Give a Shot at Walgreens

Our family has chosen to go by a delayed vaccine schedule. We discuss vaccines at every well baby visit and make an informed decision when it comes to what vaccines are given and what vaccines are delayed until the next visit. And we don’t mind coming in in-between appointments for a shot only visit.

This means that our kids get every vaccine on the list, but when they are given is more spread out. I personally couldn’t handle giving 4 shots at one visit to my little ones so we have a 2 vaccine max at every visit. Then we come in-between appointments to get the other shots we need. Priority is given to the vaccines our doctor thinks is the most beneficial at that time. When we sit down with our doctor we discuss what illnesses are out in the population at the time and what will keep our children healthy. 

Diseases and viruses like measles and polio can prove to be devastating to those who aren’t immunized so there’s a benefit to keeping those immunizations up to date. But some parents don’t have the luxury that I do to decide on what vaccines to give and what to hold off on. Some children who don’t receive the proper immunization risk the chance of contracting these life threatening illnesses.

pretend shots

I vaccinate my kids and see the benefits and reasoning behind making sure our kids are vaccinated, however I am also sad about this bill for many reasons. One being the open endedness. Who determines what ‘any other disease deemed appropriate by the state Department of Public Health*’ is? Will we vote on those or will the governing bodies determine those? Can we get titers for the kids before requiring a booster for a vaccine to determine if a booster is needed?

The fact that this list is also requiring a vaccine for an STD be given to our children bewilders me. Will they eventually require the HPV vaccine too? I sure hope not! Also, while I agree with the need for vaccines I can’t believe that this was created purely for the health and wellness of the masses. Is the government reaching a bit too far? 

Is vaccine a dirty word in your social circle? What are your thoughts on this hot topic and do you feel like you can talk openly about it?

*KQED News

Filed Under: Life, Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

5 Ways To Help Children Get Their Bedroom Organized

June 20, 2015 by 1 Comment

5 Ways To Help Children Get Their Bedroom Organized

Is your child’s bedroom an unorganized mess every time you walk in? Well, if your children are old enough, it may be time to help them learn how to organize their bedroom.

Last year I shared how we get the kids involved in cleaning. And organizing isn’t that much different. Once your kids have mastered cleaning their rooms, learning how to organize will make keeping their rooms clean much easier.

Check out these five ways in which you can help your children get their bedroom structured and under control.

Kids Cleaning Tips - finding easy tasks

5 Ways To Help Children Get Their Bedroom Organized

#1. Bins & Baskets

In my opinion, you can never have too many bins or baskets in a room. As long as there is a place to store these bins and baskets, you are good to go. These contraptions can be stored under beds, in closets, and even on dressers. You can label each bin and basket, so your child knows exactly where everything goes.

#2. Get Rid of Excess

I believe that children learn how to part with things, if their parents teach them well. You can help your child get their bedroom a little more organized by helping them to learn to part with toys that they’re no longer using. Teach your children to always be in the process of getting rid of items that are no longer needed.

#3. Hands & Knees

You may never truly see what your child sees unless you are on your hands and knees. Don’t be afraid to get a child’s eye view of their bedroom this way. You may understand why their room is dirty or unorganized, if you see it from their point of view. Plus, this will help you come up with ideas to help them get a little more organized. Maybe their shelves are too high for them to reach or their drawers are hard to open. If we expect our kids to be a little more organized, then we have to make it a little easier for them.

#4. Always Involve the Child

Making your child leave, while you clean their room teaches them nothing. You must always involve your child in the organizational process, if you want them to learn how to get their bedroom organized. Although this process might take a lot longer, you’re teaching your child a lot during the organizational process. Plus, they are going to appreciate your hard work a lot more if they see what you’ve put into it.

#5. Organize from Top to Bottom

What does this mean? Well, to keep things organized in your child’s bedroom the organizational layout needs to make a little more sense. All toys and things they need to reach should be on the bottom and other items (they don’t need) should be higher up. For example—if you still pick out your child’s clothing, then hanging them up on the highest rack is okay. You can also place items that are not as frequently used on the top shelves, to help eliminate clutter and the temptation to drag out unneeded items.

Organizing your child’s bedroom doesn’t need to be a complete nightmare. Just remember to keep up with the clutter and to always keep things simple. The more items you have in your child’s room, then the harder it will be to organize it.

Filed Under: For the Home, Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

These are the things I learned (in Kindergarten)

June 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Oh how fast this year has gone. My son has completed his first year of school and I couldn’t be more proud. There are so many things that he learned this year. But I’ve learned just as much.

This is the first year I’ve been a parent to a grade schooler. The first year of Catholic school, of PTG, of being a room mom and so much more. And the first year I’ve worked at home while my kids were in school all week as opposed to part time pre-school and at home with me the rest of the time.

We all had to wake up early, all had to get ready at the same time. And I was lucky if I got a hot cup of coffee before we were out the door and headed for morning drop off.

Last Day of Kindergarten

This Year In Kindergarten I Learned:

1. To play nice with others

My son’s school is small. 1 classroom per grade and each class averages between 14-24 students. Every year it can fluxuate since we have a large military presence here in San Diego and at the schoolbut for the most part the kids my son is in class with now will most likely be with him until he graduates 8th grade and goes to high school. . That means that I’m slowly getting to know a lot of the parents, staff, and educators at this school. And eventually I’ll know everyone by the time all of my kids are here.

There are always a lot of different personalities in a group like this. There’s this mom, or that dad, or that teacher. But because we’re in it for the long haul, I was ready to play nice and get to know everyone at the beginning of the year. That’s hard when you’re brand new to a school. But I put myself out there, volunteered for various events, and made new friends.

2. That my son is awesome

Now I totally already knew this. But it was amazing seeing my son blossom from a preschooler to a grade schooler over this past year. No, he wasn’t top of the class, but he excelled in the subjects he loved and tried hard in the subjects he had trouble with. He went from not knowing all of his letters to being able to write full sentences. Wow.

And the interest he has in learning blew me away. While we struggled each night to get homework done because he’d rather be playing with his toys or finishing a game of Mario with his dad, his teacher always had the best things to say about his work ethic and the fact that he was willing to try and work hard to learn the things he hadn’t mastered yet. That’s all I want from him.

3. I enjoy being involved

I totally didn’t know if I’d cut it as a room mom. Nor did I think I’d have any interest in being involved in the PTG other than attending the general meetings. But I knew that I had time to dedicate and personally chose the career I’m in so that I could be involved. And involved I was.

From organizing class parties with my co-room mom, to finding sponsors for the auction at the Fall Gala the school held as a fundraiser, and eventually to stepping up as the sponsorship coordinator for the PTG at the end of the year, I found that I enjoy being involved in school and being a part of the community it creates.

4. I can use my skill set to my school’s advantage

Who knew that what started out as preserving memories and finding an outlet could turn into a full time job? How would I ever forsee that being a digital influencer could help my son’s school? With the relationships I’ve made and the things I’ve learned running this blog I’ve been able to help reach out to the community and am starting to secure donations and relationships for the school to use.

I think that just about every parent has a skill set that the school could use. And it doesn’t have to be in any official capacity. Simply stepping up and saying, “I can do this” will probably result in benefiting the school somehow. Whether you’re an educator at another school, a digital influencer, a crafter, a photographer, or any other myriad of skills out there. There’s something you can do to help your child’s school.

5. I love a close knit community

When my husband talked about wanting our kids to have a Catholic education I can honestly say I didn’t get it. I agreed to it even before we were married because I knew it was a huge deal to him but until my son actually attended school this year, I didn’t see the difference. And now? I can definitely see the difference. And not only because we’re paying a good chunk of change each month.

With a small private school comes a close knit community, or the semblance of one. I really enjoy hanging out with the other parents in my son’s class and also have seen a glimpse into the relationships other class parents have. By being more involved in the school I know that over time we’ll become even closer with the school community. And that is something I want for my kids.

First and Last Day of Kindergarten

These are the things I learned (in Kindergarten):

  1. Share everything.
  2. Play fair.
  3. Don’t hit people.
  4. Put things back where you found them.
  5. CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS.
  6. Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
  7. Say you’re SORRY when you HURT somebody.
  8. Wash your hands before you eat.
  9. Flush.
  10. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
  11. Live a balanced life – learn some and drink some and draw some and paint some and sing and dance and play and work everyday some.
  12. Take a nap every afternoon.
  13. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
  14. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that inside.
  15. Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup – they all die. So do we.
  16. And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned to read – the biggest word of all – LOOK.

― Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

What did you learn this year?

Filed Under: Life, Parenting, Uncategorized

Date Night at Vessel Restaurant San Diego

June 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Vessel Restaurant San Diego - Bar

My husband and I have always been adament about enjoying date night regularly. It’s good for our relationship. Our marriage. And it’s always a fun event. Whether we’re enjoying a bite before the theater, grabbing something quick before a movie, or are invited out to a private tasting at a local restaurant like we were this past week at Vessel Restaurant at the Kona Kai resort. Something about being able to reconnect with out the kids in tow is good for us. And we enjoy the time we spend together.

We’ve visited Vessel before and love the food that Chef Roy Hendrickson prepares. He likes to create New American cuisine featuring seasonal dishes prepared with locally sourced and sustainable ingredients and always seems to hit the nail on the head with his flavor combinations.

Kona Kai Resort San Diego

Kona Kai Marina

Vessel features a stunning outdoor patio set against the colorful backdrop of the picturesque marina, a 360-degree bar at its center and a video wall showcasing local landscapes.

Dinner with a view. Only the best here in San Diego.

Vessel Restaurant at Kona Kai Tasting Menu

Before enjoying our meal, we perused the cocktail menu. I decided to indulge in a blood & sand. It was refreshingly smooth with a citrus twist and definitely hit the right spot after a long day od working and taking care of the kids.

Vessel Restaurant Cocktails

After cocktails we sat down to taste the dishes Chef had prepared. Starting with an amazingly decadent 48 Hour Pork Belly that literally melted in my mouth. And theMaui Coconut Porter he paired it with was equally enjoyable. The 48 hour pork belly was served with plantain powder, sweet potato spaetzle, anise, bitter chocolate.

Next up we enjoyed a simple roasted pear with borage flower, blue cheese, fine herb medley, caramelized black pepper vinaigrette paired with an Alesmith .394 Pale Ale. I could definitely taste summer through this sweet and savory dish.

Vessel Restaurant Summer tasting menu

Before we had to leave the tasting a little short (parenthood doesn’t always get put on hold during date night), we were able to savour a delicate corn dusted albacore with Serrano custard, bacon powder, and onion jam paired with a Refuge Blood Orange Belgian. Yes, you read that right. Bacon. Powder. Seriously amazing.

While we weren’t able to enjoy the last two dishes and the dessert course, we will still be back to try them out at another time. Date night at Vessel Restaurant was perfect. With fabulous dishes, the perfect ambiance, and tasty beer pairings, summer at Vessel is going to amazing.

When was your last date night?

Filed Under: Date Night, Date Night Ideas, Parenting, Restaurants, San Diego, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

My Baby Prefers To Be In My Arms And That’s OK

June 7, 2015 by 8 Comments

My Baby Prefers To Be In My Arms And That's OK

As my little one approaches 4 months I’ve started to get the questions. When will she sleep in her co-sleeper? Why are you allowing her to nap in your arms instead of her own? Aren’t you spoiling her?

Nope.

She’s not being spoiled. She’s being loved. And she’s happy.

And?

She sleeps!

And?

I sleep!

I am not sure why but I’ve always felt as if co-sleeping was the best for my family. From the first night I brought my oldest home from the hospital, my babies have slept in my arms or right next to me. And my third is no different.

Sure I had grand plans of the kids sleeping in a crib. We set up a hand-me-down crib from my brother-in-law in the baby’s nursery with my first and my second. But this time around? I completely forgoed the crib. I didn’t want to waste the money (or the space) for a prop.

I did buy a co-sleeper though. Even though it’s mainly used as assurance that the baby won’t fall off the bed. Side note: She’s never fallen into the co-sleeper nor have my other two ever fallen off the bed as infants at night when I wasn’t using a co-sleeper. The older two have, however, fallen off the bed during the day at one point or another.

Why co sleep? What started out purely as a selfish way for me to get more sleep at night while breastfeeding has turned into a way of life for our family. My youngest stays in bed with us all night while the 4 and 6 year old make their way into our bed by the time we wake up most nights. And really the main reason why is that it works for our family.

My kids are happy, everyone in our small immediate family is OK with our situation, and we all sleep.

I’m also starting to read more articles pointing to the evolutionary reason behind co-sleeping and the benefits. Reading articles like these from people who have actually researched the subject make me feel a lot better about our choice. Knowing that I’m not alone in my belief that co-sleeping is natural gives me power in my response to those who try to scare me with stories of co-sleeping gone wrong.

I think the majority of people who have an issue with co-sleeping don’t realize that there are ways to safely co-sleep. And things have changed a LOT since many of them have had infants in their home. I also believe in respecting other’s opinions however I won’t let it sway what I do with my children. I simply listen to them voice their concern, politely nod and smile, and if a response is needed, I’ll let them know that we’ve researched the subject and feel that this is the best for our family.

Now if there came a time where my husband said he didn’t want to co-sleep anymore then we’d have a serious discussion. At least about the older two kids. But for now, since they only come into our bed in the wee hours of the night, there have been no complaints.

Sometimes I think about what it’d be like if I didn’t have to cuddle with a baby all night. Or get pushed to a small 6 inch space of bed for my more-than-6-inch body. And sometimes I dream of the day that I get my bed back and don’t have to share it with 3 little people.

But then I realize how little time we really have with them at this age. They won’t be in our bed forever. And then I’m ok with it again.

Do you co-sleep?

food spoils babies don't

 

Filed Under: Baby, Parenting, Uncategorized

Seeing Myself Through My Daughter’s Eyes

June 3, 2015 by 5 Comments

Seeing Myself Through My Daughter's Eyes

This past weekend I headed up to Temecula, a short 45 minutes north of San Diego, to attend Bloggy Boot Camp with the SITS Girls. While I learned a lot about the business side of blogging, networking, etc., I also learned far more beyond blogging.

In addition to the great tidbits about the latest social media platforms (::cough, cough:: SnapChat?? No, maybe it’s Periscope…), Tiffany Romero of the SITS Girls shared ways to simply be a better person.

Now I’m totally going to paraphrase this because I’m no good at exact quotes but when Tiffany suggested that we stop and think of our daughters in our shoes. Then look at what our daughters are doing and tell them what they need to do – more sleep, less work, exercise and eat right, never give up – basically giving myself the advice I would give my daugther should she be in my shoes. And this opened my eyes a bit more to how I’m living my life.

After Women Get Social last year, also put on by the SITS Girls, I had taken away quite a bit that I actually put into action. I made office hours, I hired a Virtual Assistant. Heck… I even hired my house keeper back after a long break without her (and my friends thank me every time they come over and have to use our guest bathroom that is also my son’s bathroom). But there were a few things I hadn’t been doing and now I need to start working on weaving those into my life.

I also want to start considering what my daughters see when they watch me. I want to be more cognizant and aware of how I’m living my life and make sure that I’m living the life I want to live and being the person I want to be. But I also want to portray that to my daughters So that instead of just a frazzled, crazy woman who’s over-extended herself in an effort to do everything, they’re seeing a dedicated, hard working woman who loves to support those around her.

I have stopped saying negative things about my appearance and myself in front of her. When I weigh myself in the morning I smile even when I want to cry. And when I’m trying on clothes I make sure to critique the fit of the clothes, not the look of my body in the clothes. Because she’s watching… she’s watching everything.

And it’s only a matter of time until she starts to look at herself in that mirror. It’s only a matter of time until she’s over-extending and wondering why she feels like she’s the only one drowning. Until she realizes that she’s not alone. And it’s ok to feel that way.

Oh, and the photo above? I had my daughter take it. I’m going to have her take a lot more photos of me too…

Filed Under: Life, Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

Tips for Hosting A Playdate

May 31, 2015 by 54 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Quaker Oats. All opinions are 100% mine.

Tips for Hosting A Playdate

Over the past 5 years I’ve been the organizer of a large local playgroup. With over 250 members, we meet weekly at various locations and events around town.

As the organizer I’ve found it easier for new members to meet at someone’s home instead of meeting at a public space for their first event so I host a playdate at my house once a month. Needless to say we’ve gotten really good at hosting playdates.

I’ve put together a few tips on hosting playdates so that the next time you decide to invite a new friend over you’ll be prepared to sit back, relax, and enjoy some adult time while the kids play and entertain each other. Tips for Hosting A Playdate - imaginative play

Tips for Hosting A Playdate

1. Keep it simple

Playdates do not need to be complicated. Simplicity is key. As is prepping ahead of time so you don’t have to run around the whole time. Don’t overdo the toys and games. Keep a handful of things out but close the bedrooms and keep certain areas off limit.

Or keep everyone outside in the backyard so the adults can keep an eye on everyone easier. My friends and I like to grab some chairs, sit back with our smoothies, and chat while the kids run around and burn off some energy.

Tips for Hosting A Playdate - snack time

2. Have snacks on hand

If you want to make something for the kids to enjoy, do it ahead of time so you can serve when everyone gets there. I like to have one homemade goody on hand, like smoothies, oatmeal squares, or this delicious apple crisp.

Then we add some Quaker® Chewy® Granola Bars and some fruit and veggies that we have stored on hand for snacktime in between playtime. Quaker Chewy Granola Bars contain 8 grams of whole grains in every bar and come in delectably fun flavors like Chocolate Chip, S’mores and Oatmeal Raisin.

Tips for Hosting A Playdate - bubbles and other activites

3. Bust out the bubbles

One thing that seems to bring all of the kids together for a fun time are bubbles. Something about the joy of spinning, jumping, and twirling around to catch them just brings out the best in kids. So stock up on the sales and keep some on hand for playdates.

I prefer to have a bubble machine going instead of blowing them myself because they machines blow bubbles a lot faster AND we don’t have little ones trying to blow bubbles themself and getting bubble liquid all over the place.

Tips for Hosting A Playdate - fun for all ages

4. Fun for all ages

Have a few toys or activities on hand for all ages. I like to keep a small box of soft toys on hand in case any of the moms bring their babies along with the older kids. It makes everyone feel welcome and encourages the moms to relax a bit knowing there are toys for the little ones to play with.

And on the other side of the spectrum, grab a few Nerf balls and let the older kids play and have fun without worrying about hurting the younger ones. Or bust out the sidewalk chalk and let the kids use their imagination and creativity to make a beautiful picture or create another play area. A few simple things will go a long way!

Tips for Hosting A Playdates - sibling love

What are your tips for hosting a playdate?

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Filed Under: Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

Boozy Smoothies By The Pool

May 27, 2015 by 4 Comments

This shop featuring boozy smoothies has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #Arbormist #StartSummer #CollectiveBias The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.

Boozy Smoothies

When I plan a mom’s night in I like to keep things simple: drinks, food, and fun. And if I can combine two of those things into one, like food and drink, everyone is happy!

I recently headed over to a friends house for some much needed girl time and brought a boozy smoothie bar with me to whip up some delicious cocktails we could indulge in by the pool.

With a few simple ingredients, a blender, and some plastic wine gasses I found at the dollar store we had delicious drinks that served as both snack and boozy treat. How awesome is that?

Boozy Smoothies with fruit

Boozy Smoothies By The Pool with Arbor Mist

I love to keep entertaining simple. Especially when it’s on-the-go entertaining at someone else’s house. But simplicity means that I can entertain elsewhere and am not limited to just my back yard.

This summer I forsee many afternoons hanging by the pool and relaxing with a boozy smoothie in one hand while I chat with my friends and enjoy the warmth of summer.

Boozy Smoothies ingredients

Boozy Smoothies blended up

Boozy Smoothies

  • 1 cup Arbor Mist (any flavor)
  • 1 cup fruit (I chose mango, strawberries, blackberries, and bananas)
  • 1 cup ice
  1. Add equal parts Arbor Mist, fruit, and ice into the blender.
  2. Blend until all incorporated.
  3. Serve in a classy plastic wine glass and sip by the pool!


Boozy Smoothies with Blackberry Arbor Mist

Boozy Smoothies By The Pool

Visit the Simple Entertaining Social Hub for more great entertaining ideas! And if you’re looking for more fun, enter the Arbor Mist Summer Sweepstakes where 1 lucky winner will win a brand new water sport vehicle and 100 others will win Arbor Mist beach themed prizes!

What’s your favorite way to stay cool by the pool?

Filed Under: Drinks & Refreshments, In the Kitchen, Mom's Night Out, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

5 Kid Pool Rules For Summer

May 20, 2015 by 3 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Stearns Puddle Jumpers®. All opinions are 100% mine.

5 Kid Pool Rules For Summer

The temperature is remaining warm, Memorial Day is around the corner and the kids are almost out of school. For tens of thousands of children, their eyes switch from the books to the pool.

We love going to the pool during the summer but when we do there are some clear, simple rules that our children must follow in order to swim and play at the pool. And if one of the rules is broken, we simply pack up and head back home.

Pool safety, and sun safety, is very important. So we’ve come up with 5 Kid Pool Rules to keep our kids safe during the summer months. We even keep a copy of it with our pre-packed pool bag. Makes things simple and our kids know what to expect!

5 Kid Pool Rules For Summer

Healthy Snack Time with Sprout Organic Foods at the pool

1. Sunscreen. Before anything!

I don’t know about you but I am a stickler for sunscreen application. Like clockwork we apply and re-apply. I even set a timer to remind myself. There’s been too many times in my life that I’ve gotten burned and have had to deal with the pain afterwards. To save my kids from that, we remember to keep up with our sunscreen.

What I love doing is before we even get our swim clothes on, we put on sunscreen. Then when we get dressed and head out the door we don’t have to stop and apply when we get to the pool. Need a distraction? Give them a snack while you apply!
Healthy Snack Time with Sprout Organic Foods playing at the pool

2. Cover up.

Whether it’s a rash guard, a hat, or staying under a cover, when it’s sunny outside, I keep the kids, and myself, covered up. We get enough sun daily here in San Diego to give us a golden hue to our skin. We don’t need to be lobster red!

The best way to get my kids to cover up is to have them pick out their rash guard and a hat to match. We also don’t give them the opportunity to not wear a rash guard while swimming or playing in the waves so they really don’t know any different.

5 Kid Pool Rules For Summer - floaties on

3. Flotation devices on!

My go-to item for in the pool safety is our tried and true Puddle Jumpers. For kids 30-50 lbs, there’s no other way to go. It’s comfortable for the kids and gives them a sense of security if they’re just learning to swim or haven’t quite mastered swimming in deeper water.

Plus, it’s Coast Guard approved so most public pools and water parks will allow you to use them over their generic life vests. That means you get to use a safe flotation device that your kid is comfortable with!

Our Puddle Jumpers are also put on as soon as we get to the pool and aren’t taken off until we leave. This is also something that the kids cannot argue with. If they take off their Puddle Jumper, we’re heading home.

Need one for your kid? Visit StearnsFlotation.com to purchase one today.

5 Kid Pool Rules For Summer - listening ears

4. Listening ears at all times.

To keep the kids safe, we make sure that they keep an ear on us at all times. What does that mean? Not going farther then about 10-15 feet from us so they can hear us if we need to speak with them.  Since it’s a rule, they are pretty good about following it and not going out of range. By staying within hearing range, they’re also visible as well.

5 Kid Pool Rules For Summer - no running

5. No running. Ever. Period.

I know it’s basic. But my kids, and most others, just get excited when they’re having fun in the water or sand. They want to race off to their next adventure but running by a pool is very dangerous.

We’ve had a few slips here and there so our kids are aware of the fact that they can get hurt if they run by a pool. And we have to warn them about the danger of not only falling, but falling and hitting their head near water. Very scary.

When our kids are safe, and they’re clear on the rules, pool time is so much more fun! We’re clear on our expectations and in return we usually end up with very happy, very tired kids after a fun day at the pool.

How do you keep your kids safe during the summer?

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Filed Under: Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Using Disposables At Night

May 11, 2015 by 2 Comments

This post featuring why our family chose to use disposables at night is sponsored by Huggies.

Using Disposables At Night - why we made the decision

 After having my third child I thought things would go just like the other two. We’d continue to do all of the things that we did with the other two this time around. But every child truly is different and we’ve had to tweek some things here and there to create a new normal for our family of 5.

One of those tweeks is that we’ve chosen to use disposable diapers at night. Little Miss was just too much of a heavy wetter and I hated waking up soaked every night. She’d start out dry in her co-sleeper and then would end up soaked on me in the morning. No bueno.

cloth during day disposables at night baby girl

My old night time diapering solution just wasn’t cuting it and I needed a change.

After using disposable diapers on our trip to Seattle for SoFabU On The Road, my mind was made up. I was going to use disposables at night. (Need tips on staying in a hotel with an infant? Check out this post here!)

Since I am not very familiar with disposable diapers it was a bit of a learning curve to figure out what would work best with our baby. And after a few trial and errors we’ve found the perfect solution.

Fun Fact: I totally tried to put the diaper on backwards the first few times I used a disposable during my trip to Seattle. Oy! And? I had no clue how to tell if she was wet. My mom had to show me.

Huggies® Snug & Dry Ultra diapers at Walmart

We picked up a box of new Huggies® Snug & Dry Ultra Diapers, available exclusively at Walmart, because we heard that they lock away wetness better than other brands and provide up to 12 hours of long-lasting leakage protection. 

Since this little one likes her beauty rest (and co-sleeping makes it possible to quickly nurse to appease her appetite) keeping baby dry all night long gives me the confidence that I’m making a smart choice for my family.

cloth during day disposables at night with Huggies

5 Things To Know When Making The Switch

  1. Put the tab side down first. Don’t try and diaper your baby backwards like I did (unless they’re older and try to remove their diaper at night). 
  2. When checking to see if the diaper is wet, feel the front with your thumb and pointer finger. If it’s squishy, it’s wet. 
  3. Don’t worry about sizing up in PJs. Slimmer bum = wearing their true size in sleepers. 
  4. Size up! Especially if your baby is on the cusp of going to the next size, always size up. 
  5. Don’t try to stock up. Since you’re only using them at night, you only need 1-2 diapers a day (depending on how heavy of a wetter you have).

These might sound like “duh” things to think about but from a mama who’s only cloth diapered, I was truly clueless when making the switch.

Cloth during day disposables at night - no leaks

Instead of adding layers upon layers into my fitted cloth diapers that I used with the other two, I now just grab for a Huggies® Snug & Dry Ultra diaper as we go through our night time routine and I know that I won’t be frustrated when I wake up. 

A happy mama equals a happy baby! 

cloth during day disposables at night - Huggies stay dry

Share a Huggies #UltraHug and Win A Grant For Your Community

Give your baby an Ultra hug every time you diaper them in Huggies® Snug & Dry Ultra Diapers, and make someone else’s day better by sharing an #UltraHug. 

Share a selfie of you and baby on Twitter or Instagram and nominate a community project in need such as a local park, playground, or rec-center. Tag the post with #UltraHug and you may receive a $2,000 grant from Huggies for your community’s project!

You can post between now and June 25 to enter. Beginning July 6, Huggies will feature 20 of the nominated projects HERE. The top 10 will receive community project grants.

Did you do the same thing with all of your kids or did you change things up?

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